The NASCAR Cup Series hits Watkins Glen International on Aug. 10 for the Go Bowling at the Glen. The 90-lap, 220.5-mile race will be broadcast on USA network beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
Here's what we'll be watching:
Catch Him if You Can
Shane van Gisbergen is tied with Jeff Gordon for most consecutive road course races won from the pole with three. Gordon accomplished the feat 1998-99.
Chris Buescher is Mr. Consistency
Chris Buescher is the only driver to finish in the top 10 in all three Watkins Glen races in the Next Gen car. He won last year’s race with a last lap pass of Shane van Gisbergen.
Chasing Dan Gurney
If Shane van Gisbergen wins Sunday’s Cup race, he will join Dan Gurney as the only drivers to get their first five Cup victories on road courses.
Keep and Eye on Hendrick Drivers
Hendrick Motorsports leads all NASCAR Cup teams in poles, wins, top fives, top 10s, laps led and average finish on road courses. And that means watch out for William Byron, Kyle Larson, Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott.
Chevys Likes the Road
Chevrolet drivers have won nine of the last 11 road course races and five of the last six at Watkins Glen.
Chasing a Road-Course Breakthrough
Chase Elliott leads all drivers with 11 top-five finishes in the Next Gen car on road courses, but none of his seven road course victories have come in the Next Gen car.
Pencil 'Em in for the Top-10
Shane van Gisbergen (8.9), Chris Buescher (9.57) and Chase Elliott (9.8) are the only three drivers to have a top-10 average finish on road courses in the Next Gen car.
Toyota Is Due at the Glen
Toyota hasn’t won at Watkins Glen since Martin Truex Jr.’s 2017 victory. It’s Toyota’s longest drought at any active Cup track.
Channeling Cale Yarborough
Chase Briscoe can become the first driver since Cale Yarborough in 1980 to win three consecutive poles multiple times during the same season.
Good Omen for Kyle Busch?
Seven of the 17 road course regular season races in the Next Gen car were won by a driver ranked 16th or worse in the playoff standings. Playoff hopeful Kyle Busch comes into this one 18th in the playoff standings.
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